Pin-driving device



Sept. 9, 1969 L R, KRlvrr 3,465,835

PIN-DRIVING DEVICE Filed Dec. 5, 1967 INVENTOR. AwAfA/CE KRW/7' LMdAp A TroR/vfys "United States Patent 3,465,835 PIN-DRIVING DEVICE Lawrence R. Krivit, Highway 17M, Monroe, N.Y. 10950 Filed Dec. 5, 1967, Ser. No. 688,249 Int. Cl. B27 c 3/08; B23b 45 06 U.S. Cl. 173-170 1 Claim ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a pin-driving device. The invention is particularly concerned with a device to be used by `doctors and their assistants for driving a pin into the broken bone of a patient, although obviously the device can be also used for other purposes, such as a saw, a rotary or plane cutter, a chisel, drill or a screwdriver.

The task of inserting pins into broken bones is now a diicult and cumbersome one and it requires two persons, namely, the operator and his assistant. Present hand drills require the use of both hands and the operator cannot feel the result of the pinning while it is taking place. Air activated instruments for drilling and planing are encumbered by a hose and are unable to perform the functions of pin driving and chiseling.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pin-driving device which will not have the drawbacks of prior art constructions.

Another object is the provision of a pin-driving device which can be used most effectively by a single operator, which is of light weight, which can be easily and quickly transported, which can be easily sterilized in toto by means of autoclaving and which has no electrical components to ignite the combustible gases found in operating rooms.

Other objects will become apparent in the course of the following specification.

In the accomplishment of the objectives of the present invention it was found desirable to provide a device having a casing which carries a handle so that the device can be readily held in one hand. A portion of the casing is used for a spring-supported reciprocating piston. The piston may be provided with a rod extending out of the casing and carrying at its outer end a screw to which the pin can be attached. A gas cylinder is firmly attached to the casing and is provided with a regulator. A microvalve of the type described in U.S. Patent No. 2,860,660 is connected with the gas inlet, gas outlet and the power piston chamber; it is carried by the casing and can be set so that the piston will carry out either a single outwardly directed stroke or will be reciprocated until stopped by the user.

Means can be provided for causing a rotation of the pin-carrying rod by the reciprocation of the piston.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing by way of example, preferred embodiments of the inventive idea.

In the drawings:

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FIGURE l is a side view of a pin-carrying device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIlIGURE 2 is a section through the device shown in The pin-driving device shown in the drawings includes a casing 10 the top of which is provided with a handle 11 so that the casing can be easily held by one hand of the operator. The casing is divided by a connection 12 into an upper section 14 and a lower section 15. The lower section 15 constitutes a `cylinder for a reciprocating piston 16 having a piston rod 17 which extends out of the casing through an opening 18 provided in the bottom of the casing. The piston 16 is supported in its inoperative withdrawn position by coil springs 19 the ends of which are firmly fixed in the bottom surface of the piston and the bottom surface of the casing.

The upper section 14 of the casing has an inlet opening 20 for introducing a gas, such as compressed air, into the interior of the casing. Opposite the inlet opening 20 there is an outlet opening 21 constituting the exhaust. A micro switch 22 is usually located in the off position, closing the inlet. It is maintained in that position by a return spring 23. As already stated, the micro switch 22 is of the type generally known in the art and is described, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 2,860,660. For that reason it is shown merely diagrammatically in the drawing.

Compressed gas is supplied from a container 26 of the type generally available in the market. The opening of the container 26 is fitted over a regulator 27 Which communicates with the opening 20. The regulator 27 can be conveniently adjusted by hand to set the amount of compressed gas being supplied to the interior of the casing.

The device of the present invention can be set for single operation or for continuous automatic operation by an external switch (not shown) which may be a rod activated by the return of the piston to reinitiate the lever switch 28.

When the operator wishes to use the device for single action, he will actuate the switch 28, allowing compressed air to flow from the container 26 into the section 14 of the casing. Compressed air will flow through the opening 13 into the section 15 of the casing and will push downwardly the piston 17 compressing the springs 19. f

The lower end of the piston rod 17 carries the driving pin 36 which is fixed in an angular holder 37 by a screw 38. Thus the downward movement of the piston will drive the pin 36 into the desired location.

It is apparent that further variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, the reciprocating action could be converted into a rotary motion for drilling and screwing with a further simple mechanical addition to the operating end. All such variations and modifications are to be included within the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A compressed gas powered hand tool comprising a small detachable bottle of compressed gas, a regulator, a microvalve, a casing, a piston reciprocably mounted in said casing, means supplying compressed air into the casing for moving said piston in one direction, resilient 9 a means engaging said piston and adapted to move said piston in the opposite direction, means withdrawing compressed air from the casing, a piston rod connected with the piston and movable therewith, pin-holding means located outside of said casing and means connecting said piston rod with said pin-h01ding means delivering great amounts of power in short thrusts, depending on the size of the piston, to be used as a hammer, saw, drill or screwdriver.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 134,083 12/1872 McKay 91-5 3,049,712 8/196'2 Khan 91-5 3,170,487 2/1965 Julifs 91-5 X 3,272,267 9/1966 Langas 173-170 NILE C. BYERS, JR., Primary Examiner 

